CeraVe Hydrating Toner for oily skin
3 Essential Ceramides
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and glycerin provides hydration, but it lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results.
- The formula provides excellent hydration due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which are beneficial for maintaining skin moisture.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like niacinamide and ceramides.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in your AM and PM routine every day to keep skin fresh.
- Apply this product after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb.
- Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is highly praised by users with dry and sensitive skin for its hydrating and softening properties, leaving skin feeling plump and moisturized without stripping natural oils. Most users report a soothing, non-drying finish that effectively removes residue. A small number of users experienced breakouts or a stinging sensation.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves my face soft, plump, and balanced”
- “skin feels super hydrated”
- “restores moisture levels quite nicely”
Gentle & soothing Often Mentioned
- “never once felt dried out”
- “calms my sensitive skin”
- “no stinging or tingling effect”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “fast absorbing non-greasy finish”
- “feels like water on the skin”
- “lightweight leave-on formula”
Removes residue Sometimes Noted
- “picks up lingering makeup”
- “removes dirt my cleanser missed”
- “great for double cleansing”
Fragrance-free Rarely Noted
- “love that it's fragrance-free”
- “mild smell, no scent”
- “great for my allergies”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my skin”
- “stung my eye area”
- “face turned red and hot”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused a horrible breakout”
- “gave me small bumps”
- “not for acne-prone skin”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “left a sticky film”
- “felt a bit tacky”
- “didn't like the residue”
Underwhelming results Rarely Noted
- “meh”
- “not as good as Asian toners”
- “didn't notice a difference”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, dermstore.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe Hydrating Toner work for oily skin?
CeraVe Hydrating Toner works moderately well for oily skin, as niacinamide helps control oil and glycerin provides hydration without causing irritation. However, because it lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients, oily skin needs a toner with targeted oil-balancing agents and lightweight hydration for optimal results.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
This toner works for your oily skin because niacinamide helps regulate shine while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide lightweight moisture without irritation. To fit this skin type even better, products of this type need strong oil-controlling ingredients.
What do Ceramides do for oily skin?
Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and retaining essential moisture without clogging pores. When paired with ingredients like niacinamide, they may also help improve skin texture and reduce blemishes. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight hydrators and pore-balancing ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This hydrating toner fits into your morning routine right after cleansing and before your moisturizer, and you can also use it during your weekly routine after a cleansing mask. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, though oily skin of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first to hydrate your skin and then following with your retinol treatment. This toner helps calm and maintain moisture, which is unlikely to cause irritation when combined with active products.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner daily in the morning as part of your routine. It provides hydration and is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, though a few reviewers have reported occasional breakouts.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
Why other toners fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Peg-240 Hdi Copolymer Bis-Decyltetradeceth-20 Ether, Peg Ppg Polybutylene Glycol-8 5 3 Glycerin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Potassium Laurate, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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